Five In A Row: The Rag Coat

This week we read another "new-to-us" book called The Rag Coat.  It's about a little girl who lives in the Appalachian mountains and doesn't go to school because she doesn't have a coat.  Her Daddy (A coal miner) dies and the "Quilting Mothers" come together to make her a coat.  LadyBear didn't like this one quite as much as the others we've ready, but it was a bit longer and LittleBear did!

Our calendar board for the week...

This week we watched more movies than I usually go for, but they fit with our theme and I felt like they really made a difference in making things real to LittleBear.   We learned a lot about coal mining and listened to some great music.  On the bright side, I've also become a big fan of the mountain dulcimer!  

LittleBear gets excited about videos...especially ones with huge dump trucks and trains!

 We continued to do our math, grammar/spelling and handwriting every day and I am really proud of how LittleBear is improving, particularly in his handwriting.  It's still his least favorite thing, but most of the time he is doing it with less fuss and writing better, so I keep trying to point out that the practice is paying off.

 Working hard at spelling...

 Handwriting practice...

 
We also made "Chunk of Coal" cookies, which were super tasty and something LittleBear was particularly excited about doing.  

 Pouring the "oreo dust" into the marshmallow/butter mixture...

 Chunk of Coal cookies!!!

They are in the frig cooling as I type and we'll have those for dessert tonight!  YUM!

Next week we are taking a break from Five In A Row to talk about airplanes and airports in preparation for a future trip.  We're hoping to teach LadyBear what it means to use her quiet voice...we'll see how that goes (prayers are greatly appreciated).

We didn't get to read all of our go-along books this week, which I regret, so you won't see as many *s on this list. 

Resources and printables I used for The Rag Coat can be found at:

Five In A Row Teacher's Manual

My Five In A Row Pinterest Board
Appalachian Dulcimer- Amy Fabbri on Youtube
Shady Grove on the Mountain Dulcimer on Youtube
I'll Fly Away on the Mountain Dulcimer on Youtube
Take A Ride Into A Mine video on Youtube
Where Does Our Coal Come From? video on Youtube

Go Along Books we used for The Rag Coat (* indicate ones we especially liked):

* Appalachian ABCs by Francie Hall
* A is for Appalachia by Linda Hager Pack
* Coal (A True Book) by Christin Ditchfield

* Appalachian Toys and Games from A to Z by Linda Hager Pack
Appalachia by Cynthia Rylant
Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
Growing Up In Coal Country by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
The Pioneer Children of Appalachia by Joan Anderson
The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt by Barbara Smucker
Log Cabin Quilt by Ellen Howard
The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco
The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy

 Putting this week's story disk on our map...